On June 5 the Jagiellonian University began hosting a three-day long summit of the Coimbra Group, an association of the oldest and most prestigious European higher education institutions. The participants include presidents and other representatives of 39 universities, who will meet within the framework of the Coimbra Group General Assembly and Annual Conference, accompanied by meetings of the network’s Executive Board and working groups.
Founded in 1985, the Coimbra Group is an association of 39 long-established European multidisciplinary universities of high international standard. The Coimbra Group is committed to creating special academic and cultural ties in order to promote, for the benefit of its members, internationalisation, academic collaboration, excellence in teaching and research, and service to society. The Group also aims to influence European educational policy and to develop best practice through mutual exchange of experience.
The Jagiellonian University joined the Coimbra Group in 1991. The organisation of the General Assembly and Annual Conference in Kraków was suggested by the JU Rector Prof. Wojciech Nowak in 2014, which met with enthusiasm of both the Executive Board and the member universities of the network.
The Jagiellonian University is actively engaged in the work of Coimbra Group. The JU Rector Prof. Wojciech Nowak belongs to the Rectors’ Advisory Group, whereas the JU Vice-Rector for University Development Prof. Dorota Malec is a member of the Executive Board, elected in June 2018. Additionally, the University staff are active members of the network’s working groups.
The Coimbra Group Annual Conference Women in the University – the past, the present and the future, held in JU Auditorium Maximum on 6 June, aims to examine the status quo with regard to the major issues related to women in the university. It will point to strategies which may help to strengthen the role of women in the higher education sector and their contribution to the knowledge development in general. The participants will also reflect upon the experiences of women in universities, especially from the position of leadership. Best practices will be discussed, as well as challenges that academia is facing regarding gender equality.
Also on June 6, the Rector of the Jagiellonian Unversity Prof. Wojciech Nowak and the President of Kraków Prof. Jacek Majchrowski will sign the Poitiers Declaration about cooperation between universities and their local socio-economic environment.
